LABOUR Party activists in Sandwell are opposing plans to shut the borough’s magistrates’ court. The proposed closure of the courthouse in Oldbury as part of Government cuts would leave the borough with a magistrates’ court, with cases transferred to Walsall.

West Bromwich Magistrates’ Court was shut down four years ago and although its workload was moved to Oldbury, the Ministry of Justice claim the Ringway building, built in 1989, is underused.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis Constituency Labour Party has sent its objections as part of the public consultation and has received an acknowledgement saying its views will be “carefully considered” before a decision is made by the Lord Chancellor.

Secretary John Bills said: “It is alleged that the Sandwell Court is working at 47 per cent capacity whilst Walsall at 57 per cent. However, the Walsall figure includes youth court cases which are actually dealt with elsewhere.

“It is essential that all Black Country boroughs keep their identities under the likely formation of the Combined Authority. The Magistrates’ Court is an important part of that identity.”

He said Labour councillors, including Sandwell Council leader Cllr Darren Cooper and West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey had joined forces to object.

The closure of Sandwell Magistrates’ Court would also lead to 21 job losses as well as the knock on effects of solicitors and other legal services leaving Oldbury.

Labour Party parliamentary press officer for Halesowen Stephanie Peacock said: “These are ill-thought through proposals from a Tory Government attacking one of the poorest boroughs in the country.

“Yet again the MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis is nowhere to be seen when defending the services of local people.

“Sandwell is the fifth most deprived borough in the UK with the highest incidence of domestic violence in the Black Country.

“A crucial factor in the successful prosecution in contested cases is the attendance of witnesses, particularly the injured party. The need to travel to Walsall would be a further obstacle to court attendance where the financial and social circumstances make this difficult. “Its proximity to the new custody suite near to the railway station makes Oldbury an ideal location for the magistrates’ court.”